R.E.M. to reissue ‘Green’ in 25th anniversary 2CD set, release live Record Store Day EP

R.E.M. will reissue its major-label debut Greenin a deluxe 25th anniversary 2CD set this May, packaging a remastered edition of the original 1988 album with a 21-song live set recorded at the penultimate concert on the band’s massive Green World Tour — a live set that will be previewed with a 5-song EP released on Record Store Day.

The new reissue features a bonus live album culled from the band’s Nov. 10, 1989, concert in Greensboro, N.C., a 29-song performance that was filmed for use in the “Tourfilm” concert movie. With only 21 songs fitting on the Green bonus disc, the band is issuing five more as the Live in Greensboro EP, a limited-edition CD to be released April 20 for Record Store Day.

Still, between the reissue and live EP, four songs from that night aren’t being released: covers by Hugo Largo (“Harpers”), Wire (“Strange”), Syd Barrett (“Dark Globe”) and The Velvet Underground (“After Hours”).

See full tracklists below.

That EP is limited to 2,500 copies and only will be available at independent retailers participating in Record Store Day. Listed at $7.98, it also will come with an original patch left over from the Green World Tour.

The Green reissue will arrive in a hard clamshell box similar to the previously R.E.M. expanded editions and will include four postcards, a foldout poster and new liner notes. The remastered album also will be released the same day with original art and packaging on 180-gram audiophile vinyl.

So glad they’re continuing on with these reissues. My main question is – and always has been – will this be reissued with the iridescent ’4′ over the ‘R’. It was only on certain pressings – and I’ve never heard any explanation.

Wow, just found this release and was surprised. Not only did I attend this concert, I had the pleasure of a brief interaction with Mike Mills, who stood center stage before the show, looking out onto an empty house. He was nostalgically amused, commenting that he remembers attending concerts as a fan, “in this very place”.